In the News

Professor Gregory Germain Speaks with USA Today on President-elect Trump’s Civil Cases

Professor Gregory Germain recently spoke with USA Today for the story “Trump’s election helped him with his criminal cases. What about the civil lawsuits he faces?” Based on Supreme Court precedent, presidents are not immune from civil liability for private actions.

The USA Today article notes that “Trump could go on to file motions asking courts to dismiss the civil cases, claiming they – with their massive judgments – will unconstitutionally distract from and interfere with his upcoming presidency, just as he is arguing that his two state criminal cases should be fully dismissed for those reasons. For him to win that argument about civil lawsuits, however, courts would need to announce brand-new protections for a president-elect or sitting president. No one in those positions has ever before been made fully exempt from civil lawsuits.”

In response, Germain says “The (Supreme Court) would have to extend the law in a way that they never have.”

Syracuse Law Honorees Featured on 2024 AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll

An individual in a blue suit and light purple tie stands in front of a seated audience in a lecture hall, speaking and gesturing with hands clasped. Two people sit behind a wooden desk, observing attentively. The lecture hall features modern architecture with slanted windows and beige seating.
Elliot Malin L’24

The Syracuse University College of Law is proud to announce three honorees featured on the 2024 Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Pro Bono Honor Roll, which recognizes individuals advancing access to justice through exceptional pro bono contributions.

Elliot Malin L’24

Elliot Malin, a 2024 graduate of the College of Law, completed an extraordinary 1,400 hours of pro bono work. Malin collaborated with the Lizzy Hammond Foundation to raise awareness about accidental deaths in inflatable bounce houses and organ donation, as well as with the Anti-Defamation League of Nevada and the ACLU to provide legal support to an underserved individual in a protected class. His remarkable dedication earned him the College of Law’s Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award for the Class of 2024.

Professor Paula Johnson

Professor Paula Johnson, a distinguished faculty member and co-founder of the Cold Case Justice Initiative (CCJI), was recognized for her significant contributions to civil rights-era justice. CCJI investigates racially motivated murders from the civil rights movement and educates law students and the public on these critical cases. Beyond CCJI, Professor Johnson’s teaching and scholarship focus on criminal law, race, voting rights, and gender justice.

Dafni Kiritsis, Director of Externships & Career Services

As the director of the College of Law’s Pro Bono Recognition Program, Dafni Kiritsis has played a vital role in promoting pro bono work among law students. Under her leadership, students who complete 50 or more hours of qualifying pro bono work are recognized at commencement. Kiritsis also organizes the annual Pro Bono Fair and facilitates collaborations between students and local public interest attorneys.

These honorees exemplify the College of Law’s commitment to public service and advancing justice for underserved communities.

Professor Kubala Named New York State Bar Association’s Veterans Advocate of the Year

Beth Kubala meets with students in her office

Professor Beth Kubala has been selected as the recipient of the New York State Bar Association’s Judge Robert T. Russell Veterans Advocate Award. This award recognizes “an attorney who has positively impacted or provided exemplary services to current and retired members of the U.S. military in New York State.”

“Elizabeth Kubala takes her students from the classroom to the community, breaking down barriers so veteran clients can access quality health care, food and other government benefits. Her work bridges generations, aiding recent veterans now enrolled in college to those who fought in Korea and Vietnam.”

—Domenick Napoletano, New York State Bar Association President

Under her direction, students in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) have authored amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court and argued cases at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Her tenacity has brought about new programs and funding to fight veteran homelessness and substance use. Professor Kubala’s nomination praised her infectious enthusiasm and passion for her work.

Syracuse University and the College of Law proudly support veterans through a legacy of over 100 years of commitment to military-connected students. Recognized as one of the Best Private Schools for Veterans and dedicated to being the Best Place for Veterans™, Syracuse offers unparalleled resources, academic programs, and student organizations for our veteran population.

Syracuse University is also home to the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, a national non-profit organization which has supported more than 208,000 service members, veterans, and military family members through programs and services which empower them in their post-service lives.

Professor Nina Kohn Discusses Syracuse’s Worst Nursing Home, Bishop Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

David M. Levy L’48 Professor of Law Nina Kohn recently spoke with the Syracuse Post-Standard for their story “Syracuse’s worst nursing home risked lives, NY finds. Resident wonders if ‘they’d be better off dead’.” The article reveals numerous life-threatening issues found by New York State inspectors at the Bishop Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

In reviewing the state’s report on the facility, Kohn commented “We really need to be thinking about penalties beyond inspections. Is this a facility that the state should be licensing?”

The full article may be behind a paywall.

Professor Shubha Ghosh Discusses the DOJ’s Plan to End Google’s Search Monopoly with The Verge

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh, director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute, recently spoke with The Verge for their article “Breaking down the DOJ’s plan to end Google’s search monopoly.” The DOJ has proposed many remedies after a federal judge ruled that Google monopolized internet search and other services.

Discussing the possibility of Google selling its Chrome browser, Ghosh says “There is definitely an issue about whether you’re just simply transferring a valuable asset from one company where these assets are too tightly integrated, to another company.”

Another proposed remedy is for Google to license some of its most valuable data. “Data is not really protected, per se, by intellectual property,” Ghosh says. “It’s not like Google created the data. They created the platform that allowed the data to be generated.” It’s like asking who owns a news event, he adds. “The news is just what happens, and you just have an agency that collects it or observes it. But that doesn’t by itself create any kind of property right.”

Professor Shubha Ghosh Comments on the DOJ’s Request to Break up Google and Force the Sale of Chrome

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh recently spoke with the Associated Press on the DOJ’s request that a federal judge impose several sanctions to break up Google’s monopoly on search engines and other technologies. The request includes the potential sale of the Chrome web browser and that its Android operating system should be completely walled off from the company’s search engine.

“It is probably going a little beyond,” Ghosh said of the Chrome breakup. “The remedies should match the harm; it should match the transgression. This does seem a little beyond that pale.”

Professor Gregory Germain Provides The Hill with Legal Insights into President-elect Trump’s State Cases

The Hill’s article “Trump allies remain in legal peril despite his election victory” called upon Professor Gregory Germain’s blog post for insight into what happens to Trump’s criminal and civil cases after his election.

“In all likelihood, the state criminal cases will be put on hold during Trump’s presidency,” he wrote. “If they try to continue with the prosecutions, or even to impose a stayed sentence, I suspect the decisions will be reversed on appeal.” 

Professor Gregory Germain Discusses Elon Musk’s PAC with Newsweek

Professor Gregory Germain has weighed in on the legality of Elon Musk’s PAC, America, with Newsweek.

According to Germain, the PAC may have broken the law. “I think the PAC and its donors are vulnerable to consumer fraud and possibly election fraud claims if they make inconsistent statements about the process, or fail to disclose how the information the PAC receives will be used,” he said.

Professor Katherine Macfarlane Helps Fact Check NY Prop 1 Misinformation

Professor Katherine Macfarlane spoke with USA Today for the article “New York’s Prop. 1 is a ‘backstop’ to protect rights, expert says | Fact check.”

Proposition 1, also known as the Equal Rights Amendment, is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would expand anti-discrimination protections for certain groups, including immigrants and those who have changed their gender identity.

Macfarlane says “Whenever rights are protected in the constitution, it’s harder to then pass a statute due to political whims to weaken them.”

“Reasonable” – Professor Emeritus William C. Banks on Governors Placing the National Guard on Standby Before the Election

Professor Emeritus William C. Banks recently spoke with the Military Times for the article “States put National Guard on standby in case of election violence.”

Banks, who authored a book on the domestic use of the military, said “The precautionary measures by governors — activating or placing on alert members of their state National Guard — are reasonable in the same way that similar call-ups would precede a major storm that threatens a state.”